My husband was awarded more than two thousand pounds for unfair dismissal by a tribunal seven years ago, but he never received a penny. The firm went into receivership. The case is supposedly being dealt with by a union solicitor, but my husband is now retired and the solicitor is never in when we call these days.
If the award cannot be met by the firm’s liquidators some of it will eventually be paid by the government. However there’s often a delay because the liquidator must be asked for the money first. But seven years is too long, and it’s not acceptable that your solicitor is not replying to your calls. Union solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority too, so I suggest you write to them after first making a complaint to the union.